Journal article
The contribution of pharmaceutically active compounds from healthcare facilities to a receiving sewage treatment plant in Canada
S Kleywegt, V Pileggi, YM Lam, A Elises, A Puddicomb, G Purba, J Di Caro, T Fletcher
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry | WILEY | Published : 2016
DOI: 10.1002/etc.3124
Abstract
Concentrations and percent loadings of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and other emerging contaminants released from healthcare facilities (2 hospitals and a long-term care facility) to a sewage treatment plant (STP) in a large urban sewershed were evaluated. An additional hospital outside the sewershed was also monitored. Fourteen of the 24 steroids/hormones and 88 of the 117 PhACs and emerging contaminants were detected at least once. Commonly used substances, including cotinine, caffeine and its metabolite 1,7-dimethylxanthine, ibuprofen and naproxen (analgesics), venlafaxine (antidepressant), and N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (insect repellant), were detected in all samples at all..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The authors thank C. Tomey and R. Grace at AXYS Analytical Services for their project management and expertise. The present project has received funding support from the Government of Ontario. Such support does not indicate endorsement by the Government of Ontario of the contents of this contribution.